Global Legal Services

Overview:

Because of the decrease in trade barriers, better transportation, and communication, the world has become a smaller place and an easier place to conduct business. Based on market demand, many companies are expanding into the world market and becoming multinational, in which many of the laws for conducting business are varied particularly in the area of applicable chemical management laws, i.e., industrial chemicals. Since The Acta Group (Acta®) clients come from these communities, we too, are global. We help our clients function optimally in all jurisdictions in which they market and/or place products upon the market to remain competitive.

With our affiliates, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and B&C® Consortia Management, L.L.C. (BCCM), and our joint venture partner, Pacific Life Sciences Co. Ltd. (PLS), Acta has built an extensive network of legal and related support from Europe to Asia to the Americas. Our professionals possess legal, scientific, and public communication skills needed to represent effectively client matters before administrative agencies, legislative entities, and public advocacy groups across domestic and international jurisdictions. With our network of legal affiliates in the United States, Europe, and Asia, we can assemble response teams for matters requiring timely action.

Our Experience:

Acta professionals bring a wealth of experience in working with legal and other professionals across domestic and international jurisdictions. Heading up global efforts are Acta professionals who not only have the global contacts, but they also have the underlying knowledge and experience to guide and/or coordinate matters taking place across jurisdictions.

Lynn Bergeson has been working on industrial and agricultural chemical policy issues for over 20 years. She has worked extensively on Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform, emerging technologies, including nanotechnology, biotechnology, and synthetic biology, and the application of legal and governance systems to these emerging technologies. Her work has brought her to Capitol Hill, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and other governance and standard-setting bodies on chemical policy and management issues. Ms. Bergeson has worked extensively with law firms and lawyers in Europe, Asia, and South America. These trusted professionals are highly qualified in the same “niche” practice areas in which Acta professionals practice.

Lisa Campbell similarly has worked with European and South American lawyers and professionals on agricultural chemical and biocidal products for years. These established relationships are invaluable when needed quickly to protect a client’s interests in a particular product line that is at risk due to a legal, regulatory, or legislative crisis in a foreign jurisdiction.

What We Do:

Acta helps clients to best position themselves in the face of regulatory initiatives and proposals, as well as regulations requiring product approval. We have successfully managed a wide range of chemical and chemical product issues in jurisdictions across the globe for a variety of clients. Our global legal services include:

Work with local foreign counsel to defend products in cancellation proceedings

Develop strategies to approach effectively government agencies, such as the EC, European Union (EU) Member States, and China, on client matters

Government-Generated Policies –

Design responses to specific regulatory requirements or directives

Assist in drafting comments for agencies’ decision-making records

Representative Engagements:

Acta worked with EU counsel to file the first -- and successful -- appeal in association with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation on behalf of a client.

Working in conjunction with an industry association, we obtained desired clarity on procedural aspects of an EU process and also engaged appropriate EC and Member State personnel to assist with process, classification, and trade issues.

Acta partnered with EU counsel to work cooperatively with the EC on behalf of an industry association. The effort ultimately resulted in a successful legal action against the EC enabling the continued commercialization of a product that otherwise would have been extinguished.